WHO Says SARS Outbreak Has Peaked
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that the SARS outbreak has peaked in countries around the world. That includes China, which has reported the most SARS cases and deaths since the outbreak began there last November.
The WHO declaration came on the second straight day that no new cases of the highly infectious respiratory disease were reported in Asia, BBC News Online reports.
There were two more SARS-related deaths reported in China, raising the death toll there to 336 people. Another SARS death was reported in Hong Kong, which has recorded 284 deaths.
In response to the improving situation in Asia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it has removed its travel alert for Singapore and downgraded the travel notification for Hong Kong.
Despite the positive news, WHO officials caution that all countries must remain vigilant against SARS. They note that the renewed outbreak in Toronto, Canada, demonstrates that just one missed diagnosis can result in a resurgence of the disease, the Associated Press reports.
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-- Robert Preidt
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